Whitley Bay appoint Marc Nash as new assistant manager

Marc Nash. Picture by Ian Appleby

Published:13:43Tuesday 12 July 2016

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Whitley Bay Football Club have appointed Marc Nash as their new assistant manager.

For the last seven years, Marc has been manager of Whitley’s Reserves side and after a very successful period in charge, his promotion to the first team is well deserved and an indication of the Club’s desire for continuity within the management structure.

In his first season in charge of the Reserves, Marc led his team to Northumberland Minor Cup glory and promotion to the Northern Alliance Premier Division, where they have never finished outside the top six. Last season they achieved their best ever placing, ending runners up to Blyth Town who they defeated in the final of the Northumberland Benevolent Bowl.

In his playing days, Marc was a striker and after a spell with Hartlepool United, he joined Whitley Bay in 2000.

He recalls two games in particular during that period. “We reached the last qualifying round of the FA Cup where I scored in a 6-1 defeat at Barrow although we played most of the game with 10 men. During that run we met Chris Waddle’s Worksop Town and beat them 2-1 at Hillheads.”

He also played for Tow Law, Prudhoe and Ashington, but his playing career was cut short by injury.

He went on to coach at Wallsend Boys Club for 14 years before returning to Hillheads.

Speaking enthusiastically about his new role, which will include leading the coaching of the first team, he said: “I’m delighted to be given this opportunity albeit a year earlier than planned!

“I’ve worked extremely hard for the club and this is the next step for me.

“The chairman and the manager in particular realise there is a boatload of talent in the Reserves and want to make sure they make the transition, when the time is right, into the first team and with my presence it will help them.

“I’m hoping I can help bring stability to the first team squad, which has been like a revolving door in the past two years.

“We want players that care passionately about the club and players who are fully committed and who can help make us competitive in every single game.

“That’s a great starting point to build for the future because a quick fix is never really the answer and isn’t sustainable.

“Myself and Chan (Manager Ian Chandler) will be demanding high standards and hopefully we can mould a team that can both entertain the fans and give their all. With patience, results and success will not be far away.”

Pre-season training is now well underway and a series of six friendly games has been arranged, starting this Saturday at home to Stockport Town.

Next Thursday July, 21, Durham City are the visitors to Hillheads and then two days later on Saturday 23 another home game sees Glasgow side Bridgewater providing the opposition.

That game will coincide with a two day Beer Festival at Hillheads which is being held on 22 and 23 July, to which all are welcome.

The draw for the early rounds of the FA Cup has been announced and in the Extra Preliminary Round, Whitley Bay have been handed a home game against Norton & Stockton Ancients, to be played on Saturday Augus 6t. This will be the first competitive game of the season.